A spontaneous musical jam session broke out at The Food Co-op in Port Townsend on Tuesday afternoon in anticipation of international Make Music Day on Thursday. It will be celebrated in 25 venues across the city. (Jeannie McMacken/Peninsula Daily News)

Make Music Day in Port Townsend to mark beginning of summer

PORT TOWNSEND — The community in and around Port Townsend will mark the first day of summer Thursday with making music community-wide during Make Music Day.

The free-for-all will be a day of celebration, participation and performances at venues throughout Port Townsend, according to organizers.

Everyone from professional musicians to people who have never picked up an instrument or sung out loud are invited to participate, learn, listen and make music together. Musicians are invited to perform, lead a song, drum, or jam circle or meet-up, share skills in music instruction, or teach a workshop of music.

Scheduled events will begin at 8 a.m. and continue until 10 p.m. All events are free and open to the public. Pop-ups might happen at any time, anywhere. There are 25 venues and 75 artists so far.

Hosts who have an outdoor or indoor venue — traditional or impromptu — where they’d like to offer music may post their venue, house concert, front porch, backyard or retail store location on the Make Music Day-PT “matchmaking” site, listing the times and place they’d like to host music.

Prospective participants also are invited to contact Make Music Day PT organizers at [email protected] or call 360-385-1160.

Volunteers and behind-the-scenes supporters are invited to assist Songwriting Works team with community outreach, transportation escort planning and other needs. To volunteer or support Make Music Day with donations of funds, space, skills or musical instruments, contact Judith-Kate Friedman at [email protected] or call 360-385-1160.

Make Music Day PT is the only event of its kind on the Olympic Peninsula and one of 800 Make Music celebrations happening in 120 countries world wide Thursday, organizers said.

Port Townsend Mayor Deborah Stinson proclaimed Thursday as Make Music Day in Port Townsend through a proclamation read at the City Council Meeting Monday night.

In addition to music, there will be free instrument and music book giveaways courtesy of Hohner, Alfred Music and other National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) members and partners.

The preliminary schedule, created June 8, is subject to change, organizers said. More venues and musical experiences will be added to the list, they said.